Bob Graham Center for Public Service

Dan Berger and Stayed On Freedom
2023-02-23 17:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Smathers Library Rm 100, Gainesville, 32611
Together with the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, the Graham Center presented an in-person book reading of Stayed on Freedom: The Long History of Black Power Through One Family’s Journey by author Dan Berger. A free book signing will follow.
The book is the story of the Black Power movement through the experiences of UF Professor Emerita Zoharah Simmons and her husband, Michael. Dr. Simmons will speak briefly after Berger’s talk. The narrative depicts the odyssey of Simmons from her time as an organizer with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party to her international work for peace and liberation.
Videos
https://bit.ly/3HDa6TM

Transatlantic Community & Aftermath of Russia's Aggression
2023-02-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Pugh Hall Ocora, 296 Buckman Dr, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
Monday, February 27, 2023
6 – 7 p.m.
Livestream Link

Russia’s largescale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has changed the geo-political landscape in the transatlantic community in a way not seen since World War II. One of the invasion’s most significant consequences has been to instill cohesion and restore a sense of purpose to NATO. What does this all mean for the future of the transatlantic community?
Luke Coffey, an expert on the role of NATO and the European Union in transatlantic and Eurasian security, and UF professor of political science Zach Selden joined for a program titled The Transatlantic Community in the Aftermath of Russia’s Aggression: What is Next?
This Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence program is sponsored by in cooperation with the UF Center for European Studies and Erasmus+ of the European Commission.
About the Speakers
Luke Coffey is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute, analyzing national security and foreign policy, with a focus on Europe, Eurasia, NATO, and transatlantic relations. His commentary and analysis have been widely published and he has been interviewed on television and radio by prestigious media outlets in the US and overseas.
He received a master of science degree in the politics and government of the European Union from the London School of Economics. He holds a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and studied African politics at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. Read more.
He served as a commissioned officer in the Army and has extensive experience in British politics, including in the House of Commons as an adviser on defense and security issues for the Conservative Party, and in the House of Commons as an adviser on defense and security issues for the Conservative Party.
Zach Selden is an associate professor of political science at the University of Florida. His research and teaching focus on U.S. national security and alliances with an emphasis on the transatlantic relationship. His first book, Economic Sanctions as Instruments of American Foreign Policy examines the use of sanctions and provides a framework for understanding when and why they succeed or fail in furthering American national interests.
In Alignment, Alliance, and American Grand Strategy he examines the different forms of alliance relations that the U.S. maintains, and how these alliances can be leveraged to ensure American security interests at a relatively low cost.
He was previously the Deputy Secretary General for Policy at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels, and the Director of the Defense and Security Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
He holds a Ph.D. from UCLA. His current research focuses on the development of the intelligence community and how specific events led to the growth of its size and power.
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Videos
https://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/Mediasite/Play/d225c30dd1f14ea8983d63e983a7c9b61d

Gators Vote 2023 Organizing Meeting
2023-03-03 14:00 | O’Neill Reading Rm, 2nd Floor, Pugh Hall
Interested in building a civically engaged community? The Gators Vote Cabinet is a partnership of organizations committed to promoting a civic culture on campus. Join us this Friday at 2 pm in the O’Neill Reading Room on the second floor of Pugh Hall to discuss civic learning initiatives. Fill out this form to be a formal member of the Gators Vote Cabinet.

Washington DC Internship Info Session
2023-03-06 16:00 - 17:00 | O’Neill Reading Room, 2nd floor, Pugh Hall
The Bob Graham Center for Public Service is excited to partner with the University of Florida Federal Relations Team to offer exciting opportunities for in-person work in the nation’s capital each spring, summer, and fall semester.
During the course of the semester, interns will have the opportunity to work with the UF Federal Relations team, a member of the Florida Congressional delegation, a congressional committee, a federal agency, or another government relations entity. The exact placement for each student will vary based on interests and availability.
The application period for Fall 2023 internships through our Washington Internship Program is now open. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend in person or virtually the information session on Mar. 6, 2023 at 4 pm.
Learn more.

Lunch and Learn with Andrew Shodell
2023-03-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Pugh Hall, O’Neill Reading Room (Room 201), 296 Buckman Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States
Tuesday, March 7
12 – 1 p.m.
Pugh Hall’s O’Neill Reading Room (Room 201)
RSVP

Click to view image
What steps can you take today to enhance your ability to build a better future?
UF fourth-year English and political science student Andrew Shodell hosted a lunch-and-learn conversation and Q&A on March 7.
Andy shared his journey from UF’s campus to Florida’s executive branch in Tallahassee to the Executive Office of the President in Washington, D.C., taking advantage along the way of opportunities open to all students at UF.
As a freshman, Andy joined The Florida Political Review, the state’s preeminent student political journal housed in the Bob Graham Center. As a senior, Andy is now editor-in-chief of FPR and has worked as a student assistant at the Bob Graham Center and served in internships with the White House, Sachs Media Group, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the University of Florida Office of the President, and Statecraft Digital. He also serves as an executive director of the student organization Engage Florida.
Andy has published op-eds in The Gainesville Sun and The Independent Florida Alligator providing career advice for students based on his experiences.
About the Speaker
Andrew Shodell is a fourth-year English and political science student at the University of Florida from Miami. At the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, Andy works as a student assistant on special communications initiatives and serves as editor-in-chief of the Florida Political Review. He has interned with the White House Office of Communications, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, public relations firm Sachs Media Group, and Statecraft Digital campaign group. Andy enjoys editing and writing speeches, articles, poems, and whatever else he can think of.

Ainissa Ramirez: The Alchemy of Us
2023-03-08 16:00 - 17:00 | Pugh Hall Ocora, 296 Buckman Dr, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
Dr. Ainissa Ramirez, best known as a masterful science communicator and author of The Alchemy of Us, delivered an in-person lecture on March 8.
The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another examines eight inventions — clocks, steel rails, copper communication cables, photographic film, light bulbs, hard disks, scientific labware, and silicon chips — and reveals how they shaped the human experience. The book was an L.A. Times Book Prize finalist, was named one of the best science books of 2020 by Smithsonian Magazine, and won the AAAS/Subaru Book Prize.
Dr. Ramirez is a graduate of Brown University, and earned her doctorate in materials science and engineering from Stanford University. She began her career as a scientist at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, NJ, and was later an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Yale. She now shares her passion for science with the general public.
Ramirez has also written for Forbes, Time, The Atlantic and Scientific American and has explained science headlines on CBS, CNN, NPR, ESPN and PBS.
She speaks widely on the topics of science and technology and gave a TED talk on the importance of science education. Currently, she is writing a series of science books for young readers with Candlewick/MIT Press.
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Bringing African American History To K-12 Classrooms
2023-03-21 17:00 | Pugh Hall Ocora, 296 Buckman Dr, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
Educational specialist Dr. Rebekah Cordova spoke about creating new lesson plans on African American history for K-12 classrooms using the oral histories captured by the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program. This event was a collaborative initiative with the Department of Linguistics, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
A panel of teachers and students discussed their goals regarding the implementation and learning of African American History in their K-12 classroom. The discussion focused on issues of content availability and accuracy; opportunities and barriers; and the current political climate surrounding the teaching of African American History in Florida schools.
Guests had the chance to ask questions and engaged with panelists following the presentation.
Learn more on the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website.
Videos
https://bit.ly/3HDa6TM

2023 Joan S. Forrest Women in Leadership Forum
2023-03-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Pugh Hall Ocora, 296 Buckman Dr, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Bob Graham Center for Public Service hosted the 2023 Joan S. Forrest Women in Leadership Forum.
This year’s Forum featured a diverse set of women from multidisciplinary backgrounds who have risen to the top of the ranks and have made great strides in their career.
The Women in Leadership Forum is hosted in collaboration with the Bob Graham Center Student Fellows. The event began with a reception followed by a moderated panel discussion.
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Videos
https://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/Mediasite/Play/a353cd41bd2f4ee989516389720845bd1d

Washington DC Internship Applications Close
2023-03-24 | Online, FL, United States
The Bob Graham Center for Public Service is excited to partner with the University of Florida Federal Relations Team(opens in new tab) to offer exciting opportunities for in-person work in the nation’s capital each spring, summer, and fall semester.
Applications are now open for the Fall 2023 internship. The deadline to apply is 11:59 pm on March 24, 2023. Visit our web page to learn more and apply!

2023-24 Gainesville Fellowship Info Session
2023-03-24 16:00 - 17:00
Gainesville needs you! Join us to learn about our 2023-24 City of Gainesville Fellowships and how you can apply!
The Bob Graham center hosted a virtual information session on Thursday, March 23 for applicants. Current UF students serving as City of Gainesville fellows were on hand to describe their experience and answer questions.
This year, the Center was pleased to announce fellowship opportunities with the City’s Department of Strategy, Planning and Innovation, the Office of the City Clerk, Gainesville Regional Utilities, Office of Management and Budget and Gainesville Fire Rescue. Under the direction of City staff, students who are selected as fellows will work part time during the fall and spring semesters of an entire academic year. Students will also register for at least one internship credit hour at UF during both the fall and spring semesters. The focus areas for the 2023-2024 fellowships are: Visual Design, Accounting, Community Engagement, UX (User Experience) Service Design, Business Process Specialist, Data Visualization, Community Development, Policy Research, and Marketing and Media.
Learn more about the City of Gainesville Fellowship.

Careers for International Studies Majors
2023-04-05 12:00 - 13:00 | O’Neill Reading Room, 2nd floor, Pugh Hall
UF International Studies grads Emma Frierson (’20) and Amila Tica (’17) hosted a lunch-and-learn conversation and Q&A on Wednesday, April 5. They spoke about their journeys to Gainesville and how they landed in careers suited to international studies majors.
About the Speakers
Emma Frierson graduated from the University of Florida with bachelor’s degrees in International Studies (Europe track) & Family, Youth, and Community Sciences. During her time as an undergraduate student, she studied abroad in New Zealand and Ireland. She developed a passion for international engagement and became a Study Abroad Peer Advisor, worked as the SAS Student Assistant, and interned with Exchange Student Services. She continued her education at UF and received her Master’s in International Business. Emma now serves as a Study Abroad Advisor for regions that are close to her heart and looks forward to helping students find their dream program. In her free time, Emma loves cooking vegan food, reading, going to markets, and trying out new crafts.
Amila Tica moved to Gainesville in 2013 to pursue bachelors degrees in International Studies (Europe track) and English, as well as her minors in French & Francophone Studies and history from the University of Florida. While pursuing her degree, she began working for the International Center as a student assistant, and upon graduation in 2017 began working full time for the UFIC Office of Undergraduate Academic Programs as a program assistant and then the UFIC Office of Global Learning as a program support specialist. She has also completed a master’s in student personnel in higher education from UF. Currently, Amila is the coordinator for Exchange Student Services at UFIC, where her focus is serving exchange students, international partner schools, and campus constituents to facilitate successful participation in UF’s exchange programs. Cultural diversity and all things international have been important to Amila from a young age, as she is a Bosnian-American who immigrated to the U.S. from Germany as a child. Her favorite international experience, outside of visiting Bosnia, has been teaching English to elementary and middle school students and interning at a newspaper office in Turkey while an undergraduate student at UF.

Jumpstarting Gen Z into Politics: Running for Elected Office
2023-04-11 17:30 - 18:30 | Pugh Hall
Have you ever thought about running for public office?
According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 1 in 10 voters in the upcoming election are Gen Z. With more and more Gen Z voters joining the electorate, how can young people get involved in government beyond voting?
The Bob Graham Center Student Fellows and Gators Vote hosted a discussion about running for elected office. The discussion focused on planning and executing a political campaign, and the historical and structural barriers to running for office.
The conversation included Mr. Aaron Klein, director of outreach from our local Supervisor of Elections office; Danielle Hawk, former candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives and chair of the campaign committee for the Florida Democratic Party; and Raemi Eagle-Glenn, candidate for the Florida House of Representatives and state committeewoman for Alachua Republicans.
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Videos
https://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/Mediasite/Play/59e87f99e655431e9e9e2dfc2dc695d21d

Film Premiere: “The Life Of Oscar Mack: The Bridge Of Freedom To Love”
2023-04-12 17:00 - 19:00 | Pugh Hall Ocora, 296 Buckman Dr, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
The Bob Graham Center hosted the premiere of The Life of Oscar Mack, a documentary film by Deborah Hendrix celebrating the remarkable life of Oscar Mack, who challenged the Florida Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s. Family members and descendants of Mr. Mack will lead discussion of the film.
Black WWI Veteran Oscar Mack received a federal appointment as Postmaster in Kissimmee, a job that would come at a price. When White police, angered by his prominence, came after Mack, he used his military training to defend himself. Newspaper reports conflict about what followed.
What happened to Oscar Mack? One hundred years later, interviews with Mack’s descendants reveal the true story. Follow the journey of Oscar Mack and his family as he escapes death and travels throughout the country, trying to create a new life.
Learn more on the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website.

2023 Graham Center Research Symposium
2023-04-15 08:30 - 13:00 | Pugh Hall Ocora, 296 Buckman Dr, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
The Bob Graham Center’s annual Research Symposium features panel-style research presentations from undergraduate students funded through the Center.
Doors will open at 8:30 am and presentations begin at 9:30 am. The event is open to the public. A limited number of seats are available during each session.
RSVP at this link.
For further information about attendance, please email conference coordinator Audrey Smith.
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Gators Vote Cabinet Meeting
2023-04-21 14:00 | O’Neill Reading Rm, 2nd Floor, Pugh Hall
You’re invited to join our last Gators Vote Cabinet meeting! We will be discussing recent achievements, organizing task forces, and setting goals for the upcoming semesters.
Snacks and refreshments will be served!
Sign up with this link to become a member.
Reach out to Teresa Cornacchione tcornacchione@ufl.edu or Francesca Tomasino f.tomasino@ufl.edu if you have any questions.

Final Day to Pick Up Graduation Cords
2023-05-04 10:00 - 16:00 | Pugh Hall
Graduating students who have earned an international studies major, a public leadership minor or who were actively involved in Bob Graham Center activities during their time at UF may pick up a graduation cord at the BGC office, 2nd floor, Pugh Hall, between 10 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday through May 4.

Fanfares and Fireworks
2023-07-03 18:00 - 22:00 | University of Florida Bandshell at Flavet Field
Enjoy an evening of live music and spectacular fireworks presented by WUFT-TV, WUFT-FM and WUFT Classic. WUFT-FM Morning Edition host Glenn Richards will serve as emcee for the event.
The fireworks by Skylighters of Florida will begin at approximately 9:40 p.m.

National Intern Day
2023-07-27 | Online, FL, United States
National Intern Day gives us a chance to celebrate and appreciate past, present and future interns at the Bob Graham Center, and build awareness about the awesome public service and government relations internships available through the Center.
Follow us on our social media accounts throughout the day to learn more!

Washington & Tallahassee Internships Info Session
2023-08-31 16:00 - 17:00 | Online, FL, United States
Have you heard about the Bob Graham Center’s internship programs in Tallahassee and in Washington, DC, and wondered if you might be a good fit?
Applications are now open for the Spring 2024 cohorts of these premier positions.
Attend our free virtual info session on about the internships on Thursday, Aug 31, from 4-5 pm via Zoom to have all your questions answered. These internships are open to students of all majors. Participants receive support for housing and cost-of-living expenses.
Please read more about the internships and register at this link: https://bobgrahamcenter.ufl.edu/internships/

Mark Yerman: Careers in Public Service
2023-09-06 12:00 - 13:00 | O’Neill Reading Rm, 2nd Floor, Pugh Hall
Are you interested in a legal career? Curious about how Florida’s judicial system works? Want professional development tips for your future beyond UF?
Join the Bob Graham Center for a lunchtime conversation on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at noon with Judge Mark Yerman, a recently retired Citrus County Court Judge and veteran of our nation’s court systems.
Judge Yerman will share his advice about his profession and pathway to becoming a judge, along with the ethical and exemplary standards associated with the field. Students will have the chance to ask questions about planning your undergraduate career, how to become involved in the public service side of legal careers and discover new opportunities available to you.
Our special guest for the luncheon is former First Lady of Florida, Mrs. Adele Graham, who will speak briefly about the distinguished career of the Hon. Lamar Matthews, former general counsel for Governor Bob Graham.
This event is intended for UF students. A lunch is served at no charge to those who registered.
About Judge Yerman
Judge Mark Yerman is a native of Twinsburg, Ohio and earned his law degree from the University of Akron in 1978. After graduation, he moved to Chicago and worked as a contract administrator for a research institute while his wife pursued an advanced degree in Egyptology at the University of Chicago.
Moving to Florida in 1983, he opened a private practice and after three years, took a position with Withlacoochee Area Legal Services, Inc. providing legal services and managing its small Citrus County office.
In 1993 he accepted an appointment by then Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles to serve as a Citrus County Judge. He retired in 2022 and remains an active member of the Citrus County community where he serves as Chair of the Citrus County Canvassing Board, certifying elections and adjudicating contested ballots. He has twice received a Liberty Bell Award, the Citrus County Bar’s highest honor, recognizing individuals and organizations that go above and beyond promoting the rule of, and respect for, law.
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Gators Vote Cabinet Meeting
2023-09-08 15:00 - 16:00 | O’Neill Reading Rm, 2nd Floor, Pugh Hall
Join the newly formed Gators Vote Cabinet for their first meeting of the semester on Friday, Sept 8 at 3pm in the O’Neill Reading Room.
The Cabinet is a partnership of civic-minded student organizations and campus institutions committed to developing and promoting a culture of civic engagement on our campus year-round.
Gators Vote meets regularly to discuss campus-wide civic engagement issues and efforts, share best practices and ideas, and pool resources to ensure every student has an opportunity to make their voice heard in our community, state, nation, and world.
RSVP

Cornel West (Union Theological Seminary) and Robert George (Princeton): “Truth-Seeking and Democracy”
2023-09-14 16:00 - 17:00 | Smathers Library Rm 100, Gainesville, 32611
Cornel West (Union Theological Seminary) and Robert George (Princeton) will have a discussion about “Truth-Seeking and Democracy”.
This event is co-sponsored by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service and African American Studies.

Constitution Trivia Night
2023-09-14 17:30 - 19:30 | Pugh Hall Ocora, 296 Buckman Dr, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
Gators Vote and the Bob Graham Center invite you to register for the 2nd annual Constitution Trivia Night on September 14 at 5:30 pm in the Pugh Hall Ocora.
Teams will compete for cash prizes, answering a range of questions on the amendments and facts regarding our US Constitution.
First, second, and third place will earn cash prizes of $20, $15 and $10 per team member, respectively. Free food and refreshments will be served.
There is no cost to register, but register early to secure your spot.
Please submit only one form per team. Student teams must have a minimum of 2 members and a maximum of 6. You may also register as an individual to be placed on a team.
Register Now
Submit questions to Dr. Teresa Cornacchione, tcornacchione@ufl.edu, Andrew Taramykin, andrewtaramykin@ufl.edu, or Francesca Tomasino, f.tomasino@ufl.edu or call (352) 846-1575.
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African American Studies Fall Convocation
2023-09-18 18:00 - 19:30 | Pugh Hall
The Great Debate: African American Studies in Florida

The Florida Department of Education rejected the AP African American Studies curriculum because it did not present “opposing views on slavery” and in its current state violates Florida Law. In July, the Florida State Board of Education new standards states African Americans had “benefited from slavery.” These two statements are one reason why students should take courses and consider majoring in African American Studies. Join the African American Studies faculty to discuss their research and these important issues.
Refreshments provided
Speakers

Dr. David Canton, Director and Assistant Professor
Dr. Rik L. Stevenson Jr., Assistant Instructional Professor
Dr. Alyssa Cole, Assistant Professor
Dr. Kevin Winstead, Assistant Professor
Dr. Andrew Brown, Assistant Professor

National Voter Registration Day
2023-09-19 08:00 - 17:00
National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy. First observed in 2012, it has quickly gained momentum ever since. Nearly 4.5 million voters have registered to vote on the holiday to date.
You can register to vote, or update your registration, through UF TurboVote at ufl.turbovote.org. For more information about voting, visit vote.ufl.edu.

Open House
2023-09-26 16:00 - 17:30 | Pugh Hall Ocora, 296 Buckman Dr, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
The Bob Graham Center for Public Service Open house will be held on Sept. 26 from 4-5:30 pm in the Pugh Hall Ocora.
Meet our new and returning academic faculty and staff, learn about the exciting speakers and upcoming events this fall, and discover how you can become engaged in student organizations and internships.
Register now at this link.
The Bob Graham Center for Public Service was established at the University of Florida in 2006 by former U.S. Senator and Florida Governor Bob Graham to create a community of students, scholars, and citizens who share a commitment to revitalizing the civic culture of Florida and the nation.
The Center builds on the Senator’s legacy and his dedication to the idea that the next generation of leaders need a firm grounding in democratic government and command of the tools of civic engagement to discharge their rights and responsibilities as a citizen of the United States.
The Graham Center is now home to some of UF’s most popular student organizations, including the Freshman Leadership Council, the Bob Graham Center Student Fellows, UF Mock Trial, the Florida Political Review, the Future of Florida Summit and the Public Leadership Society.
Focusing on civic engagement, the Center provides voting resources and voter education. You’ll be able to learn about the newly formed Gators Vote Cabinet, a coalition between student organizations committed to civic engagement initiatives, and how you can become civically engaged.
Internships and scholarship programs are another significant part of the Graham Center. Research opportunities include the Reubin Askew Scholars, Civic Scholars, and Haskell Scholars Programs. Find out how you can apply for the Tallahassee and Washington DC, and City of Gainesville Internship Programs.
With the range and diversity of opportunities we offer, we hope to welcome you at the Bob Graham Center’s Open House! Free food and refreshments will be served.
Image Gallery
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAWyek

Fearlessly Curious Conversations with Mónica Guzmán
2023-10-03 17:00 - 18:00 | Pugh Hall Ocora, 296 Buckman Dr, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
Journalist and author Mónica Guzmán shared insights on how to have constructive discourse across political and ideological lines.
Watch the recording of the program: https://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/Mediasite/Play/838dd553490740f586665b3eef162f2a1d
Guzmán, the inaugural McGurn Fellow for Media Integrity and the Fight Against Disinformation at UF, is the author of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, which shows people how to overcome fear and uncertainty to understand and even learn from people whose whole worldview is different from or even opposed to theirs.
Guzmán is currently the senior fellow for public practice at Braver Angels, the nation’s largest cross-partisan grassroots organization working to depolarize America. She is also founder and CEO of Reclaim Curiosity, an organization working to build a more curious world.
As a McGurn fellow, she is working with researchers at the UF College of Journalism and Communications’ Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology to better understand ways to employ techniques, including how to get radically curious across gaping cultural, social and political divides.
Image Gallery
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjB28A4
Videos
https://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/Mediasite/Play/838dd553490740f586665b3eef162f2a1d

Take the Unify Challenge
2023-10-03 17:00 - 2023-10-05 20:00 | Online, FL, United States
Join thousands of college students across the nation taking part in the Unify America College Bowl Challenge! The Challenge is a guided video conversation with a student from another university who’s different from you. Together, the two of you will talk through a variety of topics like mental health, climate change, and student loans. No prep needed!

October 5 at 5 pm
October 5 at 8 pm
October 12 at 5 pm
October 12 at 8 pm

Sign up now at this link: https://www.unifyamerica.org/college-bowls/ufl

Decoding AI with Drew Harwell
2023-10-04 16:00 - 17:30 | Pugh Hall
As part of UF’s ongoing Science Journalist in Residence series, noted Washington Post reporter Drew Harwell appeared on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 4 pm in Pugh Hall to speak on Decoding AI: How Algorithms are Shaping Our Future.
Harwell, a University of Florida alumni, covers artificial intelligence, big tech companies, social media and emerging technologies. His reporting often focuses on the intersection of technology, society, and privacy.
He was a member of an international reporting team that won a George Polk Award in 2021. He joined The Post in 2014 after working for the Tampa Bay Times.
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Videos
https://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/Mediasite/Play/8943cdeb97354042b64a80b79f0f26501d

Career Talk: Young Professionals in DC
2023-10-09 16:30 - 17:30 | Zoom
The recording of this event can be accessed at: https://youtu.be/Kg9T8liUShc?si=4MoG9DHlj_eM0XiM
Please join us for Careers in Public Service with three UF and Bob Graham Center alumni working in Washington, D.C. – Priya Amilineni, Gloria Li, and Kayla Ratnasamy. You will have the chance to speak with them and learn about internships, fellowships, job opportunities, and graduate programs.
Come ready to ask your pressing questions about their time at UF and the Bob Graham Center and discover how they positioned themselves for careers in public service.
About Our Speakers
Kayla Ratnasamy currently works as a political appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration at the U.S. Department of Education serving as the Deputy Director of Scheduling for Secretary Miguel Cardona. Prior to working at the Department, she was on NASA’s political appointee team as the special assistant to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. Her political experience began in 2020 as a legislative affairs intern in then Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried’s office, through the Bob Graham Center’s Tallahassee Internship Program. A UF ’21 graduate, she earned her BA in political science with a minor in voice performance. Born and raised on Florida’s Space Coast, she is the proud daughter of Indian immigrant parents.
Priya Amilineni is from Sanford, Florida and graduated with degrees in political science and biology and with a minor in health disparities in society. She participated in almost every program offered by the Graham Center and credits it with creating a strong foundation for her career in public service. She is interested in all things social and health policy and started her career as a policy analyst at Florida’s Refugee Services Agency. She recently left her role as a Health Legislative Correspondent at the Office of Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) to become a Senior Legislative Assistant at AmeriCorps as a Biden-Harris political appointee.
Gloria Li grew up on the coast in Jacksonville, Florida and studied environmental science and philosophy at the University of Florida, where the Bob Graham Center was her second home. She graduated with her master’s in data science for public policy from Georgetown in 2022. Gloria currently works as an energy consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton and recently co-founded an autonomous mobility startup with fellow Gators. Her previous professional experiences include NextEra Energy, the White House Council for Environmental Quality, and the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
